ANC-1 Anaemia dietary modifications/preventive measures

ANC-1 Anaemia dietary modifications/preventive measures

IGNOU ANC-1 Solved Assignment 2018-2019 

Application Oriented Course in Nutrition for the Community

Assignment Code: ANC-1/AST-1/TMA-1/2018-19

ANC-1 Solved Assignment Question 4

4. Briefly discuss the dietary modifications/preventive measures for the following: (2+2)

b) Anaemia

Anaemia is a condition where haemoglobin levels in blood fall below the normal levels. Haemoglobin is a pigment present in the blood which gives red colour to the blood and is important for carrying oxygen to the different body tissues in the body. Anaemia can be due to deficiency of iron which is a part of haemoglobin. Folic acid and vitamin B12 also play a role in blood formation. Deficiency of these vitamins can also lead to anaemia.

Nutritional anaemias are common in women particularly during pregnancy and lactation. In India, most of the anaemia is due to iron deficiency. The anaemic subjects have easy fatiguability, giddiness and breathlessness on physical exertion. Paleness of conjunctiva, tongue and nail beds is present. In severe cases, chest pain and spoon-shaped nails may be present. Dietary inadequacy, menstrual loss and frequent pregnancies in women are important causes. Severe anaemia can even lead to death. The risk of death is higher in anaemic women, particularly during pregnancy and delivery. Nutrition education to consume foods rich in iron and distribution of tablets of iron and folic acid to vulnerable groups are important measures to prevent anaemia.

Given below are the few preventive measures which can help to prevent anaemias.

Dietary measures

The most rational method of prevention of anaemia is to ensure consumption of diets adequate in iron by the population. The women, particularly living in villages and urban slums, should be adequately educated about the importance of prevention of anaemia and should be encouraged to consume iron-rich foods regularly. Inexpensive sources of iron are green leafy vegetables (palak, amaranth etc.), rice flakes, other vegetables like (lotus stem), and groundnuts. If these foods are consumed as sources of iron, care should be taken that enough vitamin C-rich and protein-rich foods are consumed along with them (as they enhance absorption of iron). Meat and liver are preferably good dietary sources if one likes and can afford them.

Fortification of foods

One of the methods of ensuring adequate consumption of iron through diets is to add iron to a food item that is consumed by one and all daily. The method by which the nutritive value of diets is improved by the addition of one or more nutrients to a food item is known as fortification of food The food selected for this should be consumed by all, particularly the needy poorer segments of the populations, with very little daily variation in the quantities consumed. Common salt is consumed by the rich and poor daily in our country. It has been identified as the vehicle for fortification with iron. Studies have shown that consumption of common salt to which iron has been added leads to an increase in haemoglobin levels, thus reducing the prevalence of anaemia. Though this programme has not yet ban initiated in the country, this will be one of the approaches to control anaemia in future. Baby foods are also fortified with iron to protect infants fed for long periods on artificial milk formulas from anaemia.

Distribution of iron and folic acid tablets

By giving iron tablets, the haemoglobin levels in the blood can be raised. One of the approaches, that has been in practice in the country for over 20 years is the distribution of tablets containing iron (60 mg) and folic acid (500pg) to the vulnerable sections of the community (those who are more prone to deficiency disorders)-women, pregnant and lactating women, family planning acceptors (women who have been sterilized or those using intrauterine contraceptive devices. These women may have more menstrual losses) and children (1-5 years). The Government of India has been implementing a programme called National Nutritional Anaemia Control Programme, since the year 1970. Under the programme, the beneficiaries receive 100 tablets of iron and folic acid. This is expected to control the widespread prevalence of anaemia in the country.